Music-box and exchangeable music-disk.



Patented Dec. 5, I899. M. SCHLUSS. MUSIC BOX AND EXCHANGEABLE MUSIC DISK.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-8heet I.

FZ'-E'. Z. A

. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIll|I|lIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIm "I I I I I I I II II F C r I 1 I I l m: NcRms PKTERS cc PNCfO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. b. c.

Patented Dec. 5, 1899. M. SCHLUSS.

MUSIC BOX AND EXCHANGEABLE MUSIC DISK.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

(No Model.)

lNVENTOf? A NEYS PHUYQLITND. wAsmM-Tou. n. cy

No. 638,525. Patented Dec. 5, I899. M. SCHLUSS.

MUSIC BOX AND EXCHANGEABLE IUSIG DISK.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.) (No Madam 4 $haats$heet 3.

Emmi

W/T/VESSES: INVENTOR inn $1? I A ORA E 73 n1: cums vsrzm co 7 unm'aumo. WASHINGTON. o. n.

No. 638,525. Patented Dec. 5. I899. M. SCHLUSS.

MUSIC BOX AND EXQHANGEABLE MUSIC DISK.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.)

(" 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

l 1 l I I I I IN VENTOQ zw W A TTORNEYS Urvrrnn STATES PATENT @rricst MAX SOHLUSS, OF LEIPSIC, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMPHONION MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

MUSIC-BOX AND EXCHANGEABLE MUSIC-DISK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,525, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed August 11,1899I Serial No. 726,867. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX SoHLU-ss, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at Leipsic-Gohlis, in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Boxes with Exchangeable Music-Disks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to music-boxes, and particularly to music-boxes by which different tunes maybe played by the simple automatic exchange of one music-disk for another; and the object of the invention is to automatically exchange the music-disks through the medium of the motor and intermediate parts after the desired piece of music has been selected and the mechanism set for playing the selected piece.

The invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a music-box provided with my improved mechanism for automatically exchanging the music-disks. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan or end View with the end of the box left off. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the mechanism located between the motor and the sounding mechanism. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the various phases of movement necessary to exchange the music-disks and to retain them in position while playing a tune. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged details of the coupling between the shifter of the disks and the carriers for the same. Figs. 9 and 10 are section side and sectional elevations, respectively, of the clutch and clutch-operating devices, whereby the driving-wheel of the music-disks is thrown in and out of action; and Fig. 11 is a detail elevation of the device for indicating the piece to be played.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

A indicates a suitable casing or box in which is arranged at one end the sound-emitting comb B and the motor 0, of well-known construction.

The music-disks D for the purpose of the present invention are not made fiat, but are set or made in concave form, so that they are simpler and cheaper. Each music-disk D is applied to a diametrical carrying-strip D, which is curved to the curvature of the disk and is pivoted at d to the carrier E, of which there are just as many as there are musicdisks. The carriers E are guided upon a series of spaced parallel rods E, which at one end extend at right angles from a transverse carriage or frame F of suitable construction and are connected at the other end by a crosspiece 6, so that they will not change their position relatively to each other. In the form of the invention shown the boX is upright, so that the rods are consequently upright, with the carriage F at theirlower ends. The rods E are preferably made of drawn-steel tubes, so that they are sufficiently strong and light, and the carriers E are guided readily thereon by means of the sleeves e at the ends. Said transverse carriage F is mounted on transverse tubes or rods G, which carry rollers g, that run on rails G, fastened to one end of the box or casing A.

On the outside of the casing A of the instrument is arranged a crank II, which is firmly connected with a short shaft h, that passes through the casing and at the inner end of which is keyed a bevel gear-wheel 71, that meshes with a bevel-pinion 77, located on a screw-spindle h journaled in bearings 7L and 77/5 and meshing with a screw-nut F, that is attached to the carriage F of the guiderods E.

For indicating the piece which is to be played the transverse carriage F for the music-disks D is provided with an angular indicating-strip I,bearing numbers which correspond with the numbers of the music-pieces printed on a suitable program applied in any suitable position on the door of the casing. In the casing A is formed an openingj,through which the numbers on the strip I can be seen. The strip I is provided with slits i, the distance of which from each other is equal to that of the music-disks and the numbers on the strip. In these slits or recessest' projects a spring-actuated pin J, which looks the carriage F in position.

The shifting or lifting of any one of the music-disks D into the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 is produced by a counterbalance or equivalent counteracting device K and cord K, which cord is adapted to be connected with any selected carrier E and is conducted over guide-pulleys 7a, which are supported on the casingA. The counterweight K is guided by means of rods K on the side wall of the casing opposite to that near which the guiderods E are arranged.

The means for connecting the cord K with the carriers E (see Figs. 7 and 8) consists of a shifter L, which is attached to the cord K and is provided with projections Z Z, having converging faces which are adapted to engage with beveled pins or projections c on said carriers. hen the shifter Lis moved in the direction of the arrow, (see Fig. 7,) the projections Z Z come in contact with the be led projection c and takethe alined carrier with it, so as to place it over the comb B. In order to permit the use of tubes as guide-rods E, on which tubes the carriers are otherwise liable to swing, the carriers E are provided at their lower ends with projecting tongues m,which enterinto recesses or notches formed in a strip M, which is arranged back of the strip I upon the transverse carriage F, so that when the music-disk is in lowered position of rest the same is locked in such position. After the music-disk is once lifted it is then properly guided by the shifter L.

The weight K is slightly heavier than each music-disk D and the parts supporting the same-such as strip D, carrier E, shifter L, &c.--so thatit overhalances the same. iVhen the weight of the parts referred to is equal to, say, Q, then for lifting the weight by the motor mechanism, only the difference between the two weights Q Q (QQ,) comes into consideration. This difference in weight is overcome by means of a toothed segment N, (see Figs. t and 5,) which is pivoted at 71 and the teeth of which mesh with a pinion 0, that is fixed on the hub of a grooved pulley 0, over which the cord K is twice trained. The pulley o is arranged loosely upon a countenshaft P, journaled in a suitable frame A and having a pinion P meshing with the large gear-wheel C of the motor C, whereby the music-disk is rotated in the well-known manner. The toothed segment N receives its motion for raising the weight K and lowering the music-disk from a link Q, which is pivoted thereto at one end and the other end of which is slotted to move and receive the shaft 0 of the motor (I, that carries the actuating disk or wheel R. The latter is provided at one side with a shift-pin 0', which is adapted to come in Contact with and travel upon one face of a transverse lip g on the link Q. and to positively move the latter and the segment N in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow on said segment. The speed of the descent of the weight K is regulated by the said actuating-wheel It and the link Q.

Pivoted at s s is a disk-retainer S of suitable form and the rotatable guide-bar S of which is adapted to guide the music-disks in the usual manner while playing a tune. The disk-retainer is pressed down, so as to hold a music-disk on the centeringpin s, by means of helical spring 8 applied to the pivot-shaft S of the retainer. Mounted on one end of the guidebar S is a roller 5 which is adapted to ride upon and over a cog-wheel T, which is keyed to a short shaft the said roller falling and rising in the recess in the cog-wheel according to whether the spring .9 is pressing the roller down into one of the recesses or whether one of the blunt teeth of the cogwheel is acting on the roller. The short shaft 15 also carries a toothed wheel T, which is struck and partially turned at suitable intervals of time by means of tappets r W, located on that side of the actuating-disk R opposite the pin 0'. A description of how the disk R acts on the parts so as to lower the musicdisk' and actuate the disk-retainer will be described later on.

U indicates the driving-wheel for the m usicdisks, which is journaled on a short fixed shaft U and the hub of which is provided with a laterally-projecting pin U forming one clutch member. The other clutch member is formed by a disk V, arranged on the before-described counter-shaft so as to slide thereon in the well-known manner, and is provided with a pin V, which is adapted to engage the pin U when the movable clutch member composed of said parts is shifted. (See Figs. t, t), and 10.) The shifting of the movable clutch member is produced by means of a cam portion C on the gear-wheel C of the motor, which bears at intervals upon a fixed spring-arm W, the bifurcated end of which engages in a groove V in the hub of disk V. For insuring the reliable contact of a music-disk D with the driving-wheel U and for preventing injury to the same a grooved guide-roller s is arranged on the guide-bar S of the disk-retain er.

The supporting-strips D of the music-disks D are each pivoted, as before described, to a socket (Z of the carrier E, so that the strip has suflicient play to permit the tight seating of the music-disks above the comb-picking devices or star-wheels, (not shown,) so that the music-disk can be properly rotated for actuating the same. This strip D is held by a suitable spring (1 in its initial position and is prevented against turning motion. During the raising of the disk-receiver this spring, which was placed under tension when turning by the closing of the retainer, produces the backward movement of the strip D into the position which is necessary for conducting it and the disk into lowermost position.

For securing the transverse carriage F against any shifting during the rotating of the individual music-disks there is arranged on the shifter L a pivoted and spring-actuated elbow-lever X, which abuts against a shoulder c at the upper end of the carrier and is thereby caused to project between the guiderods E, as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines.

The operation is as follows: After the desired piece of music is selected from the program the number of the same is read, and then by the turning of crank H the transverse carriage F and supported parts are moved by the screw-spindle h until the desired number on the indicator-strip I appears through the openingj. A coin is then dropped into a suitable coin-chute, (not shown,) so as to operate the mechanism by which the motor of the instrument is started, or the motor may be started in any other suitable way. As soon as the motor is started the weight K lowers by gravity, thus raising the selected musicdisk. The action of the weight K is regulated by means of the pin or roller r, inasmuch as the lip on the link Q is forced against it, and the inward movement of said link and of the segment, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, is only permitted as the disk R moves from position I to position II. The raising of the musicdisk is just enough to center the same on the pin on which it is to turn, and when it arrives in position it is there locked by means of the disk-retainer S, which is lowered or pressed upon the m usic-disk by the action of spring S while the disk R is moving from position II to position III, Fig. 6, which is permitted by the tappet r striking the toothed wheel T and bringing up one of the recesses in the cogwheel T, so that the roller S will enter it. During the playing of the tune the roller S remains in its recess, the time necessary being represented by the distance between positions III and IV on actuating-disk B. After the disk-retaineris closed down upon the music-disk and the latter placed in mesh with the driving or spur wheel U the latter is coupled with the counter-shaft P by reason of the cam or projection O on main gear-wheel O of the motor actuating the movable clutch member so that said driving-wheel will revolve, thus revolving the music-disk and playing the tune. The clutch members are not disconnected until the music-sheet has been turned so as to play the tune, after which time the pin 0' while the disk R moves from position IV to position V strikes the toothed wheel T and raises upon one of the blunt teeth of the cogwheel T the rollers 5 whereby the disk-retainer is moved against the action of its spring away from the music-disk, and the latter under the action of its spring is moved 0E the center-pin. While the disk R is mov ing from position V back to position I the pin 0" presses positively on the slide or link Q and moves the segment N back to position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, thus raising the weight K and lowering the music-disk. The parts being now in normal position, another tune may be selected and played in the same manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a music-box with exchangeable musicdlsks, the combination of a set of music-disks, mechanism forshiftingsaid setofdisksbodily, a counterweight, means operated by the counterweight for moving any individ ual disk into playing position, means for locking the music-disk in playing position, and a motor-operated mechanism for controlling the movement of said counterweight and for returning the same and the disk to normal position, substantially as set forth.

In a music-box with exchangeable musicdisks, the combination of a set of music-disks, mechanism for shifting said set of music-disks bodily, the same comprising a transverselymoving carriage provided with means for guiding the music-disks, a screw-nut on said carriage, a transverse screwspindle meshing in said nut, means for rotating said spindle means for moving the music-disks to position for playing and for returning the same, and means for locking the music-disk in playing position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a music-box with exchangeable musicdisks, the combination of a set of music-disks, a carriage provided with guide-rods, a carrier for each disk, guided on said rods, means for moving said carriage, means for moving any individual music-disk to position for playing and returning the same, and means for locking the music-disk in playing position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a music-box with exchangeable music disks, the combination of a set of music-disks provided each with a diametrical supportingstrip, carriers to which said strips are pivoted, mechanism for supporting said carriers, and by which the position of the set of disks is shifted, means for moving any individual same, and means for locking the music-disk in playing position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a m usic-boX with exchangeable m usicdisks,the combination of a set of music-disks, a counterweight, a cord or flexible connection, suspending said counterweight, a shifter suspended also from the cord, and means with which said cord oriiexible connection is connected, whereby the selected disk is raised or lowered, substantially as set forth.

6. In a music-box with exchangeable musicdisks, the combination of a set of music-disks, a disk-retainer, an actuating-disk arranged in connection with the motor, and provided with pins or tappets, devices operated by one of the latter, whereby the music-disks are moved to playing position and returned, and a cog-wheel operated by the others of said pins whereby the disk retainer is engaged on and disengaged from the music-disk, substantially as set forth.

7. In a music-box with exchangeable musicdisks, the combination with means for plac-. ing and securing a music-disk in position for playing, of a wheel operated by the motor and provided with a cam projection, the drivingwheel for the music-disk provided with a i clutch member, a movable clutch member disk to playing position and for returning the I tween the guide-rods, and means for operating said shifter for moving the music-disk to playing position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MAX SCHLUSS.

\Vitnesses:

HANS KANITZ, RUDOLPH FRICKER.

rods, a shifter for said carriers provided with a spring-actuated lever adapted to engage the carriers and to be moved into position be- 

